HAMPTON ROADS— A proposed initiative known as The Guardian Network seeks to strengthen coordination and public access to verified information when children, seniors, and vulnerable adults go missing in Virginia.

The effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs through a budget amendment to SB30. If the amendment passes, development would move forward through the Virginia State Police.

Reid said the idea grew from her years of public service.

“The difference between politics and public service is simple,” Reid said. “One is what you say. The other is what you do.”

Reid began her career representing domestic violence survivors and said she witnessed firsthand how quickly families can be thrown into crisis.

“When someone does not make it home, that is a family’s worst moment,” Reid said. “The Guardian Network comes from a belief that we can strengthen coordination in those first critical hours and better protect vulnerable communities.”

The network is designed to complement existing alert systems such as AMBER, Silver, Ashanti and CODI alerts. Participation would be voluntary for both families and the public.

“It does not replace them. It reinforces them,” Reid said. “What we lack is one centralized, accessible place to see verified information. This is about coordination and clarity.”

Currently, information can be fragmented, she said, making it harder for families and communities to respond effectively.

“Families in crisis should not have to search multiple platforms,” Reid said. “Public safety requires structure. Our response should be organized and accessible.”

The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has expressed support for the initiative, citing its alignment with the organization’s mission to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and health.

“Children are the highest age demographic experiencing eviction and homelessness, which creates unique vulnerabilities including separation, exploitation and trafficking,” said Charvalla West of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. “Seniors face increasing isolation, housing instability and caregiver strain in what many describe as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of a rapidly aging population.”

She said the organization supports The Guardian Network because it strengthens coordination during the most critical moments when vulnerable individuals go missing.

“The Guardian Network aligns directly with our work to stabilize families and protect vulnerable communities,” West said. “When vulnerabilities are reduced, safety increases.”

United Way collaborates with certified partner agencies across the Virginia Peninsula that focus on homelessness prevention, youth development, domestic violence response, aging services and housing repair. Those organizations would continue serving in their core roles, providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, mentorship, caregiver support and case management, while the network enhances coordination and awareness.

“The Guardian Network enhances coordination and awareness, while nonprofits provide the direct relational support that protects individuals before, during and after crisis events,” West said.

The concept also includes a second phase of development that would establish a standing advisory committee composed of survivors, impacted family members, nonprofit leaders, victim advocates and public safety professionals. A third phase would focus on identifying and allocating resources to support coordinated response efforts in collaboration with law enforcement, including ensuring necessary logistical supplies are available during active situations.

The immediate focus is Virginia. If successful, supporters say the model could be scalable to other states seeking to strengthen coordination in missing-person cases.

Reid said the goal is clear.

“A stronger safety net. Better coordination. And helping bring loved ones home,” she said. “Everyone deserves to come home.”

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia state Democrats are proposing using state funds to help Virginians afford health insurance premiums after federal tax credits expired at the end of last year.

The director of Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace said that expiration has led to tens of thousands of Virginians losing health insurance coverage through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace this year and warns it could grow to 100,000 without intervention.

“Our customers are Virginians who don’t have another option for health insurance coverage,” said director Keven Patchett.

Patchett said when open enrollment closed on Jan. 30, 2026, 19,000 fewer Virginians had signed up compared to the previous year (389,000 compared to 370,000).

He added since then an additional 25,000 have lost coverage — which is three times more than the number who lost coverage during the same time period last year.

When asked if the loss in federal tax credits was the reason behind the drop, Patchett said, “It’s the only factor that has changed.”

Patchett made those remarks Wednesday at a press conference focused on options for helping Virginians impacted by the credits ending.

Among those feeling the impact is Lester Johnson, who owns Mama J’s restaurant in Richmond.

Johnson still has his marketplace coverage, but his monthly premiums for his family of 3 have risen from $650 to around $1,000 — an increase of nearly 54%.

“This is really affecting people’s ability to, kind of, manage their budgets and their families livelihoods,” Johnson said.

Johnson attended Wednesday’s State of the Union address as the guest of Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, a Democrat who represents Richmond. His presence was intended to highlight the need for Congress to reinstate the tax credits.

“It needs to be definitely as much energy and conversation around it as some of these other policy decisions that have been made recently,” Johnson said.

The U.S. House has voted to extend the credits for 3 years, with 17 Republicans joining Democrats in support of the measure, including Virginia Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01). The U.S. Senate has not passed the extension.

“I have heard from Virginians about the cost of healthcare and the importance of expanding access for hardworking families,” Wittman said in a statement. “In January, I voted for a short-term extension of the enhanced premium tax credits not as an endorsement of the current system, but as a bridge to give Congress the time to pursue meaningful reforms. I will continue to work with my colleagues in both chambers and across the aisle to address the cost of healthcare and push for reforms that put patients back in charge.”

With federal action still uncertain, Virginia Democrats are proposing to use state budget funds to replace the tax credits for at least one year.

The House has put forward an $79 million proposal, while the state Senate is proposing $200 million.

“It’s our responsibility as Democrats to step up and this is what our budget amendments do,” Del. Rodney Willett, a Democrat representing Henrico County, said of the House proposal.

“Both budgets emphasized the need to fill gaps in healthcare. So how we go about that and what the numbers actually end up being still a few weeks away,” Sen. Barbara Favola, a Democrat representing Fairfax, said.

Patchett said that the number of Virginians who could loss coverage on the state marketplace without help could reach 100,000, which he based off of the increase that was seen when the federal tax credits were expanded in 2021.

“And that was nearly 100,000 Virginians who benefited from that expansion. And so our concern has been that we’re going to see a number very close to that 100,000 drop coverage. And the indicator suggests that that may still happen,” Patchett said.

Patchett said that regardless of the amount lawmakers agree on, the exchange has the authority to create a special enrollment period to help Virginians who have lost or dropped their coverage.

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